A traffic safety checkpoint nabbed
"quite a few" drunken drivers late last week at three Johnson
County locations, authorities said Monday.

Iowa City Police said that although total numbers have
not been compiled, at least 10 drunken driving arrests
were reported by three area law enforcement agencies.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Mike Lord said about 710 cars were
stopped between 6:30 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday.
About 25 officers and sheriff's deputies from seven area
law enforcement agencies worked at the checkpoints, which
were at Penn Elementary School in North Liberty, Scott
Boulevard and Freedom Court and in front of Mayflower
Residence Hall.

Lord said the checkpoints are funded through the Governor's
Traffic Safety Bureau. The Iowa City Police Department
receives about $20,000 annually to pay officers overtime
to work the checkpoints.

At the checkpoints, Lord said, officers make sure a motorist's
head and tail lights work as well as check for license,
registration and proof of insurance.

"The main thing is to try and get the bad ones off the
road and make people aware of any problems they may have
with their cars," Lord said. "People that may be drinking
may be thinking twice about doing that."

As of Monday, Lord had not received arrest and citation
data from the participating agencies. However, preliminary
results from Iowa City, Coralville and University of Iowa
police departments show 10 drunken driving arrests; four
possession of controlled substances; eight driving while
barred, under suspension or while restricted; seven no
insurance tickets; 13 non-moving violations; and more
than 50 warnings issued.

Lord said the area law enforcement agencies try to team
up at least once a year for a large-scale traffic safety
checkpoint. He said the individual agencies also perform
traffic safety checkpoints throughout the year.